Sarah Moorhouse
Council · Vernon
East Hill, Vernon, BC 17 yrs
About
I have been a resident of The City of Vernon for over 17 years, I love our community so much! As an active member of our community I enjoy volunteering wherever I can and am ready to make more significant community change from a council seat!
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
✓
Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
✓
Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems.
Supportive
~
Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security.
Neutral
~
Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings.
Neutral
✓
Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
✓
Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels.
Supportive
✓
Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources.
Supportive
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Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters.
Neutral
✓
Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
✓
Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
✓
Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
✓
Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents.
Supportive
✓
Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
✓
Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit.
Supportive
✓
Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
✓
Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
✓
Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit.
Supportive
✓
Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities.
Supportive
✓
Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
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Expand EV charging infrastructure.
Neutral
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
✓
Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water.
Supportive
✓
Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
✓
Develop and implement a water security plan.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
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Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal.
Neutral
✓
Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience.
Supportive
✓
Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
At home we prioritize composting & recycling as well as simple things like thrifting clothing, furniture and household items as well as having a yard that requires little to no watering. We are mindful of our water and energy use daily at home and work. I have not spent much time volunteering in the environment sector but look forward to doing so in my role on City Council, education is key and I can't wait to learn more.
Questions for Vernon
1. This question (see below) is the same as the 1st environmental question on the Vital Vote website: https://www.cfno.org/vitalvote-home
a)We need to continuously be looking at population numbers and making sure we are continuing to be forward thinking with home and business development to serve our residents. That said, I feel we have land and space that is available for use within these boundaries at this time. Being able to recognize and come back to the table if those lines need to extend is important.
b) A good development that I am hoping to see come fully to fruition soon would be the OK Village Housing Development on Okanagan Landing Rd., a condensed area being able to offer 100+ homes is not only good for the people it will house who require a little income support, but also offers dense housing and close to parks, recreation and transit. I believe we are at a point in Vernon where most, if not all, commercial development needs to take into consideration if housing can be included, I understand this does not work in every situation and developers need to remain mindful of their bottom lines but my preference would be to see any new commercial development also offer apartments above the commercial space or similar options.
b) A good development that I am hoping to see come fully to fruition soon would be the OK Village Housing Development on Okanagan Landing Rd., a condensed area being able to offer 100+ homes is not only good for the people it will house who require a little income support, but also offers dense housing and close to parks, recreation and transit. I believe we are at a point in Vernon where most, if not all, commercial development needs to take into consideration if housing can be included, I understand this does not work in every situation and developers need to remain mindful of their bottom lines but my preference would be to see any new commercial development also offer apartments above the commercial space or similar options.
2. This question (see below) is the same as the 2nd environmental question on the Vital Vote website: https://www.cfno.org/vitalvote-home
a) To me the most urgent matters are the ones all citizens can contribute to..........zero-minimal idling in personal and commercial vehicles, composting in our backyards, locating and addressing areas of our homes where heat may be escaping, reducing the amount of items we are buying new and getting delivered with oversized packaging. They are simple changes that implemented overtime, even a couple changes per household each year, will make the differences we're looking for
b) Although there is great information about how citizens can help reduce emissions in the CAP, I'd like to see or be part of a clearer plan for getting that information out to our citizens. Could a committee go around to the elementary and high schools and talk about reducing emissions.....can we educate not only our youth but all ages about simple ways to reduce our impact and emissions of GHG? Can we promote local thrift stores and stores reducing their imprint who order local and reduce packaging? I don't have all the answers but the more I learn the more I want to change!
b) Although there is great information about how citizens can help reduce emissions in the CAP, I'd like to see or be part of a clearer plan for getting that information out to our citizens. Could a committee go around to the elementary and high schools and talk about reducing emissions.....can we educate not only our youth but all ages about simple ways to reduce our impact and emissions of GHG? Can we promote local thrift stores and stores reducing their imprint who order local and reduce packaging? I don't have all the answers but the more I learn the more I want to change!
3. This question (see below) is the same as the 3rd environmental question on the Vital Vote website: https://www.cfno.org/vitalvote-home
I support the use of public funds for natural lands. As with everything it is a balancing act. We can't promote tourism and Vernon being a great place to live and not have the proper housing and roadways in place to support that. I am a strong believer in respecting the animals and nature that call natural lands home and I would always support exploring as limited impact possible on those lands.
4. This question (see below) is the same as the 4th environmental question on the Vital Vote website: https://www.cfno.org/vitalvote-home
Although being on Level 3 water restrictions has been a large adjustment for many and the restrictions on agriculture has been devastating, I do think being on these restrictions has shown many residents how small changes can make a big difference and how many of the changes are very doable day to day, year round. I tend to circle back to getting residents involved as the small changes of many can impact all. Offering workshops on rainwater harvesting, continuing to put out information to residents on how to reduce water use, encouraging and educating on zero scape yards. I believe most citizens want to be part of solutions for a strong and healthy community that want water security.
5. Describe what you have done regarding climate change and related issues in our community – for example, advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your own personal carbon footprint.
In the first Climate question I spoke about things we do at home. I do not have a great deal of experience in the community in regard to Climate Action but being part of this election process has certainly open my eyes further to how much needs to be done and I am eager to learn more and get involved anywhere I can in our community. That is a big part of me running, I am not going to pretend to know everything but can't wait to be educated by those who know how we can build a better community for our climate and our future.
6. What climate-related infrastructure risks worry you most here (fire, heat, drought, air quality, floods, sea level rise), and how will you address reducing those risks to keep our community safe?
I would be amiss to say all of these issues don't concern me, they do. But fire prevention and management is definitely one of my biggest concerns because of how much it keeps affecting us locally and also because I see areas we could improve. As citizens I think there is so much more each household could be doing to help reduce risks ad protect our properties and belongings. I also worry about our fire coverage and if all areas of our city and surrounding areas are being covered as best as possible. I am meeting with different groups and individuals who carry knowledge in these areas I just don't have and hope to work with them to find ways the municipal government can assist.
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